Marking device having percussion means associated with handle



Jan. 9, 1968 DELPO ET AL. 3,362,326

MARKING DEVICE HAVING PERCUSSION MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH HANDLE Filed March 31, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Mxchad Ddpo Po m P L en: m

BY 'Di'bo MAI WW ATTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1968 M. DELPO ET AL MARKING DEVICE HAVING PERCUSSION MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 51, 1965 INVENTORS M\ch0\ e\ Ddgo Pomp Levflwm Dzw Mu ma l A m United States Patent Ofiice 3,362,325 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 3,362,326 MARKING DEVICE HAVING PERCUSSION MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH HANDLE Michael Delpo and Pomp Lentini, Cheshire, Cnn., as-

signors to The Power-Clik Corporation, Waterbury,

Conn.

Filed Mar. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 444,177 18 Claims. (Cl. 101-316) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marking device including a die member having a stem extending therefrom wherein a sleeve member is slidable on the stem and a percussion member is arranged within the sleeve member to impact on the stem when the sleeve is moved a predetermined distance on the stem to impart a marking force to the die member.

This invention relates to marking stamps and more particularly relates to hand stamping devices employed to print intelligence in the form of numbers, letters and/or other characters on papers and records.

Hand stamps are commonly used in the business world and are widely used to print dates on received correspondence, print price figures on tags and articles, and many different types of intelligence on various and diverse articles and papers. Many of such stamps merely comprise a block or die carrying a resilient pad thereon with the desired intelligence in relief. A handle is usually attached to the block. Such stamps are used by alternately hitting an ink pad and the material to be marked. Some stamps have a fixed intelligence thereon, while some have changeable figures for dates, prices, etc. However, in all cases, they are usually operated by alternately hitting an ink pad and the material to be marked.

In such operation, the stamping pressure, both to ink the stamp and print the intelligence thereon depends upon the user. If the pressure exerted is too light, suificient ink may not be picked up by the stamp and/or the stamped intelligence may be faint. Conversely, if the pressure exerted is too great, too much ink may be picked up and/or the stamped intelligence may be blurred.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hand stamp including means for predetermining both the inking and marking pressures. A hand stamp embodying the invention may be lightly placed for inking and marking and thereafter actuated to have a selected pressure applied to the block. This is accomplished by providing a mechanism including a percussive element which delivers a blow to the printing blockwhen the handle of the stamp is depressed a predetermined distance, which blow provides the desired inking or printing pressure on the face of the stamp.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved hand operated stamping or mar-king device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved stamping or marking device wherein the inking and marking pressure is predetermined.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved stamping or marking device including a slidable handle which is effective to produce a percussive blow on the stamp block to, in turn, produce the desired inking and marking pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stamping or marking device in which the printing or marking face may be lightly placed on an ink pad or material to be marked and the necessary printing pressure applied by sliding movement of the handle upon a stem afiiX-ed to the stamp block.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, the invention both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View in half section of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 further showing the relation of the elements during a cycle of operation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation and half section of a portion of the device of FIG. 1 further showing the relationship of the elements thereof during operation;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of two of the essential elements of the device of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view seen in the plane of line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation and other device embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view seen in the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation in half section of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. '9 is a cross-sectional view seen in the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary View showing in half section the essential features of still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 shows a fragmentary view in half section and in elevation of a means for adjusting the impact which may be applied to the die unit of a device embodying the invention.

The invention as embodied in a hand stamp comprises a die or block member 11 having a rubber stamping pad 12 bearing the desired intelligence thereon affixed to the bottom surface thereof. A stem member 13 is affixed to and extends from the other end of die member 11. Slidably mounted on stem 13 is a sleeve i14 which receives thereon a handle 15. Preferably grooves or tracks 16 are longitudinally defined in stem 13 and sleeve member 14 is provided with indentations 17 which ride in grooves or tracks 16. The grooves 16 limit motion of sleeve 14 on stem 13 in one direction and a block 18 may be provided to limit motion of sleeve I14 and handle 15 in the opposite direction.

Stem 13 defines therein a longitudinally extending spring cavity 19 receiving a reset spring 20 whose function is hereinafter described. Defined in the upper end, as illustrated, of stem 13 is a seat 21 in the form of a recessed shoulder. Seat 21 is adapted to receive therein a percussion element in the form of a cam member 22 which is normally disposed in an eccentric position with respect to seat 21. Cam 22 is also urged away from seat 21 under the bias of reset spring 20. Disposed within a pocket 23in sleeve 14 is a helical spring 24 having its end helix 25 eccentric to the axis thereof. End helix 25 is disposed about a shank or neck portion 26 of cam 22 and normally holds cam 22 in a position eccentric with respect to the axis of seat 21. Cam 22 has a frusto-conical camming surface 27 arranged to be acted upon by a camming surface 28 defined within sleeve 14 and a base arranged to be seated on an annular end surface 30* of stem 13. The opposite end of spring 24 seats upon a cap member 29 at the end of sleeve 14 and is enclosed by handle 15.

To operate the described device, handle 15 is depressed in the direction of arrow A, FIG. 2. This causes sleeve 14 to move downwardly on stem 13 which, in turn, compresses spring 24 and stores energy therein. As sleeve 14 moves further down stem 13 a predetermined distance,

half section of ancam surface 28 within sleeve 14 will bear against cam surface 27 of cam element 22 forcing it towards a position in which its axis is coaxial with the axis of seat 21. When this occurs, the bottom surface of cam 22 is moved laterally off the edge surface 3t) of stem 13 and the energy stored in spring 24 is released and causes cam 22 to strike seat 21 with a percussive blow and assume the position shown in FIG. 3. As handle 15 is further depressed it will bottom on block 18 thereby delivering a subsequent printing force on die member 11, and then the depressive force is removed. When the depressive force is removed, and the device lifted from the object it engages, the energy stored in reset spring 21 by virtue of compression thereof acts against the bottom of member 22 moving it upward and through spring 24 raising handle 15 and sleeve 14. As cam 22 moves from cam seat 21 it is again positioned eccentrically of cam seat 21 and another cycle of operation may be commenced.

It may thus be seen that cam 22 initially acts as a reaction member for spring 24 until a predetermined amount of energy has been stored in spring 24, at which time cam surface 28 engages cam surface 27 and moves cam 22 to a position which is essentially central with respect to or in axial alignment with seat 21. Thereafter, cam 22 acts as a percussion element and is driven against seat 21 as the energy stored in spring 24 is released. Cam 22 then delivers an axially directed blow to stem 13 which is transmitted to die member 11. Reset spring 211 is chosen to be of lesser stiffness than percussion spring 24 so that it does not affect the impact of percussion member 22 on seat 21.

The percussive blow delivered to stem 13 by member 22 produces a predetermined printing force on die member 11 and the pad 12 carried thereon to thereby exert a predetermined pressure between the pad 12 and the object upon which it is to act, either an inking pad or an object to be printed upon. A further force is exerted on die member 11 when the sleeve 14 bottoms on block 18.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the seat 21 in stem 13 is further recessed below edge surface 30 and receives therein a percussive member 33 having pivoted thereto a cam lever 34 which is biased towards the position illustrated by a spring 35. Cam lever 34 includes a portion 36 which overlies end surface 30 of stem 13 and normally prevents movement of percussion member 33 to cam seat 21. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap member 29 carries thereon a cam-actuating member 37 which upon depression thereof engages surface 38 of cam lever 34 and rotates it clockwise to release surface or edge 30 of sleeve 14. Prior to this, as handle 15 is depressed, spring 24 is compressed storing energy therein and spring 24 in compression reacts against percussion member 33. When cam lever 34 is rotated clockwise, as described, the energy stored in spring 24 is allowed to be released and it drives percussion member 33 against seat 21, hence, transmitting the released energy to stem 13 and exerting a printing force on die member 11. Again, a second blow is delivered to die member 11 when sleeve 14 and handle 15 thereon bottom.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein cam seat 21 is also further recessed below edge surface 30 to receive therein a percussion member having pivotally mounted thereto two cam levers 41 and 42 disposed at diametrically opposed portions of percussion member 40 and which are biased outwardly by means of a spring 43 so that surfaces 44 thereof overhang the end surface 30' of stem 13. Percussion member 40 provides a reacting spring seat for spring 24.

In operation, when handle 15 and sleeve 14 are depressed and ride along stem 13, spring 24 is compressed thereby storing energy therein until cam surface 28 on sleeve 14 engages the inclined upper edges of cam levers 41 and 42. At this time the cam levers are rotated toward each other until the overhanging surfaces 44 clear surface 39 of sleeve 14. Then there is nothing to hold percussion member 40 and the energy in spring 24 produces rapid expansion of the spring which drives percussion member 40 against seat 21 in a manner previously described.

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 which includes a percussion member 50 having a passage 51 therethrough which receives a pair of pins 52 and 53, biased outwardly by a spring 54 so that the pins 52 and 53 rest on surface 3% of stem 13. Percussion spring 24 reacts against the top surface of percussion member 5%. The ends of pins 52 and 53 engaging the inner walls of sleeve 14 are slightly rounded. Thus, when sleeve 14 and handle 15 are depressed camming surfaces 28 will engage the ends of pins 52 and 53 and move them inwardly in passage 51 until they clear the surface 30 of sleeve 14. At this time spring 24 expands and drives percussion member 50 against seat 21 thereby delivering a printing blow to die 11. Spring 54 is relatively weak and serves only to position pins 52 and 53 on surface 30. The force exerted by spring 54 is insufficient to cause the pins 52 and 53 to bind on the vertical walls leading to seat 21 in stem 13. Upon completion of the printing blow reset spring 20 pushes percussion member 50 out of the seat 21 and the pins 52 and 53 will thereafter exit from passage 51 and again engage surfaces 30' at which time the device is ready for another stamping operation.

Means are also provided for adjusting the compression of percussion spring 24 and as shown in FIG. 11 may comprise a cap 60 on the end of sleeve 14 which rotatably mounts a threaded bolt 61 therein. Threadably received on bolt 61 is a cap 62 providing a seat 63 for spring 24. Cap 62 is positioned by rotation of bolt 61 to thereby vary the longitudinal position of spring seat 63 within sleeve 14. Such adjustment varies the precompression or tension of spring 24.

The tension of spring 24 is so selected that as the handle 15 and sleeve 14 are depressed to ink pad 12, a proper force or impact is applied to die 11 through the impact of the percussion member on seat 21. This insures proper inking of the pad 12 or rather the intelligence thereon. When the operator lifts the stamp from the ink pad the handle retracts under the bias of reset spring 20 with respect to stem 13. To print, the operator places the die 11 on an object, then pushes down on the handle to make the proper impression and the percussion member is released and moves through the expansion of percussion spring 24 to deliver a blow to stem 13 and provide the proper printing pressure on pad 12. When sleeve 14 buttoms on block 18, the stamp is lifted, and spring 24 resets the percsusion member.

Use of a device embodying the invention substantially eliminates the possibility or probability of smearing a legend or other intelligence to be stamped due to too much pressure, or striking the paper or other object too hard a blow with the stamp. Additionally, the action of the percussion member in striking seat 21 provides an audible sound or click which informs the operator that the proper inking or stamping pressure has been applied.

It may thus be seen that the objects of the invention set forth as well as those made apparent from the foregoing description are efficiently attained. Modifications to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, as well as other embodiments thereof, may occur to those skilled in the art which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleevemember being movable on said stem, a die seat defined on said stem, a percussion member arranged to be impacted on said die seat, means normally holding said percussion member above said die seat, energy storage means within said sleeve arranged to react on said percussion member and urge said sleeve member away from said stem, means responsive to a predetermined degree of travel of said sleeve on said stem for releasing said holding means so that energy stored in said storage means acts on said percussion member and drives it against said die seat, and means for restoring said sleeve member to a position where said holding means holds said percussion member above said die seat.

2. A die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem rigidly carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem, a die seat defined on said stem, a percussion member arranged to be impacted on said die seat, means normally holding said percussion member above said die seat, energy storage means within said sleeve arranged to act on said percussion member, means responsive to a predetermined degree of travel of said sleeve on said stem for releasing said holding means so that energy stored in said storage means acts on said percussion member and drives it against said die seat, and means for limiting motion of said sleeve on said stem after said percussion member has been driven against said die seat.

3. In combination, a die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem rigidly carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem toward said die member, said stem having an upper annular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, a percussion member normally retained on said edge surface and arranged to be impacted on said seat, means normally retaining said percussion member on said edge surface, said sleeve having a camming surface adapted to cam said retaining means and allow said percussion member to drop within said recess and impact on said seat, and a spring in said sleeve adapted to react against said percussion member when said sleeve is moved downwardly on said stem so that said spring is compressed and stores energy therein upon such movement until said camming surface releases said retaining means from said edge surface and allows said spring to impact said percussion cam against said seat.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said percussion member has a base surface adapted to engage said edge surface, a frusto-conical surface adapted to be engaged by said camming surface, and a neck portion adapted to be engaged by said sprin 6. The combination of claim 3 wherein a well is provided in said stem below said seat, a second helical spring in said well seated on the bottom thereof and arranged to react against said percussion member, said second helical spring having a lesser degree of stiffness than said first-mentioned spring.

7. In combination, a die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem rigidly carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem toward said die member, said stem having an upper angular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, a percussion member normally seated on said edge surface and arranged to be impacted on said seat, said sleeve having a camming surface adapted to cam said percussion member to a position where it is aligned to enter said recess and impact on said seat, and a spring in said sleeve adapted to react against said percussion member when said sleeve is moved downwardly on said stem so that said spring is compressed and stores energy therein upon such movement until said camming surface moves said percussion element from said edge surface and allows said spring to impact said percussion cam against said seat.

8. The combination of claim 7 further including means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

9. In combination, a die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem toward said die member, said stem having an upper annular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, a percussion member normally seated on said edge surface and arranged to be impacted on said seat, said sleeve having a camming surface adapted to cam said percussion member to a position where it is aligned to enter said recess and impact on said seat, a spring in said sleeve adapted to react against said percussion member when said sleeve is moved downwardly on said stem so that said spring is compressed and stores energy therein upon such movement until said camming surface moves said percussion element from said edge surface and allows said spring to impact said percussion cam against said seat, and means for limiting movement of said sleeve on said stem after said percussion member has been impacted on said die.

10. In combination, a die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem toward said die member, said stem having an upper annular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, a percussion member normally seated on said edge surface and arranged to be impacted on said seat, said sleeve having a camming surface adapted to cam said percussion member to a position where it is aligned to enter said recess and impact on said seat, a spring in said sleeve adapted to react against said percussion member when said sleeve is moved downwardly on said stem so that said spring is compressed and stores energy therein upon such movement until said camming surface moves said percussion member from said edge surface and allows said spring to impact said percussion member against said seat, means for limiting movement of said sleeve on said stem after said percussion member has been impacted on said die, means for restoring said sleeve member to a position where said percussion member is restored to its normal position, said spring being in the form of a helix, the last helix of said spring being eccentric to the axis of said spring and engaging said percussion member so as to hold said percussion member off-center with respect to said seat and over said edge surface.

11. In combination, a die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem toward said die member, said stern having an upper annular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, a percussion member normally seated on said edge surface and arranged to be impacted on said seat, said sleeve having a camming surface adapted to cam said percussion member to a position where it is aligned to enter said recess and impact on said seat, a spring in said sleeve adapted to react against said percussion member when said sleeve is moved downwardly on said stem so that said spring is compressed and stores energy therein upon such movement until said camming surface moves said percussion member from said edge surface and allows said spring to impact said percussion member against said seat, and means for limiting movement of said sleeve on said stem after said percussion member has been impacted on said die, said spring being in the form of a helix, the last helix of said spring being eccentric to the axis of said spring and engaging said percussion member so as to hold said percussion member off-center with respect to said seat and over said edge surface.

12. In combination, a die member carrying printing means thereon adapted to be placed in contact with a material to be printed upon, a stem carried by and extending from said die member on the side thereof opposite said printing means, a sleeve member, said sleeve member being movable on said stem toward said die member, said stem having an upper annular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, a percussion member, said percussion member being positioned within the recess above said seat, means on said percussion member normally engaging said edge surface and normally holding said percussion member above said seat, a spring in said sleeve adapted to react against said percussion member, said sleeve having a camming surface adapted to remove said engaging means from said edge surface when said sleeve is moved a predetermined distance on said stern toward said die so that said spring impacts said percussion member on said seat, and means for restoring said sleeve member and said percussion member to a position where said engaging means is eifective to hold said percussion member in said recess above said seat.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said means on said percussion member normally engaging said end surface comprises a member pivotally mounted to said percussion member and extending therefrom away from said seat and means biasing said lever towards an overhanging position with respect to said edge surface.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said means on said percussion member comprises at least one pinlike member received within a passage in said percussion member transverse to the direction of movement of said sleeve on said stem, and means in said passage biasing said pin-like member outwardly of said percussion member.

15. The combination of claim 12 further including means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

16. In combination, a marking die adapted to be placed on an object to be marked, a stem extending from said die, a sleeve slidably movable on said stern, means for limiting movement of said sleeve on said stem upon a first predetermined distance of travel of said sleeve on said stern towards said die, and means Within said stem resisting motion of said sleeve thereon until said sleeve has traveled a second predetermined distance thereon which is shorter than said first predetermined distance, said stem having an upper annular edge surface and a recessed seat therebelow, and a percussion member, said percussion member being normally retained on said edge surface and arranged to be impacted on said seat, said resisting means comprising a helical spring within said sleeve hearing on said percussion member, said sleeve member being eifective to release said percussion member from said edge surface and allow said spring to impact said percussion member on said seat when said sleeve has traveled said second predetermined distance,

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said percussion member has a base surface adapted to engage said edge surface, a frusto-conical surface adapted to be engaged by said sleeve member to remove said percussion member from said edge surface, and a neck portion adapted to be engaged by said spring.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein a well is provided in said stem below said seat, a second helical spring in said well seated on the bottom thereof and ar ranged to react against said percussion member, said second helical spring having a lesser degree of stiffness than said first-mentioned spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,324 6/1912 Broughton l01316 1,179,979 4/1916 Troup 101406 X 1,231,505 6/1917 Denney 101405 X 2,108,850 2/1938 Fromm 101-316 X 2,205,516 6/1940 Busse 101-316 2,265,584 12/1941 Stiegler 101-316 FOREIGN PATENTS 633,000 2/1962 Italy.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Examiner.

H. P. EWELL, Assistant Examiner. 

